Supporting Whole-Person Health: $30,000 Mercy CARES Grant Expands the Chiricahua Cares Fund
Healthcare extends far beyond clinic walls. Access to stable housing, reliable utilities, clean water, and nutritional food is fundamentally tied to physical and mental well-being. To address these critical non-medical drivers of health, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. has received a $30,000 Mercy C.A.R.E.S. Community Reinvestment Grant from Mercy Care.
This grant will directly strengthen the Chiricahua Cares Fund, an initiative dedicated to relieving acute financial stress for patients and families facing health-related social needs across Cochise County.
Vital Support for Cochise County Families
When essential living costs create barriers to stability, whole-person care requires stepping in with direct aid. The grant funding will focus specifically on mitigating housing instability and utility burdens by covering core living expenses:
- Emergency housing support
- Essential utility payments, including electricity, gas, and water
- Basic living necessities, such as food and clothing
With this target investment, the Chiricahua Cares Fund expects to deliver emergency housing or utility relief to at least 55 households in our local communities.
Living the “Health for All” Mission
For community health centers, providing high-quality healthcare means recognizing that wellness begins where people live, learn, and work.
“At Chiricahua, the mission of ‘Health for All’ is not just spoken, but lived every day. I am inspired by our collective commitment to ensuring that high-quality, compassionate healthcare is accessible wherever people live, learn, or work. At Chiricahua, we don’t just talk about whole person care; we deliver it. We are grateful to Mercy C.A.R.E.S. for generously supporting and recognizing this important effort.” — Jonathan Melk, MD FAAP, Chief Executive Officer at Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc.
Mercy Care leadership echoed the importance of addressing foundational living conditions as a core strategy for long-term health outcomes.
“Access to safe housing and reliable utilities plays an important role in overall health and well-being. Through Mercy C.A.R.E.S., we are proud to partner with organizations like Chiricahua Community Health Centers that are addressing barriers to health and connecting people with the support they need.” — Trisha Stuart, Director of Community Relations at Mercy Care
The Impact of Mercy CARES
Mercy CARES (Community Action Resources Education and Service) represents Mercy Care’s community giving arm. The program partners with organizations that target health disparities across four key focus areas:
- Building basic needs
- Increasing health access
- Managing chronic conditions
- Supporting mental health and well-being
Since 2016, Mercy C.A.R.E.S. has directed nearly $45 million into community reinvestment projects across Arizona. This year alone, the program is supporting 46 partner organizations and coalitions statewide to expand community impact and connect underserved populations with essential resources. Through collaborative partnerships like this, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc. and Mercy Care continue working to remove health barriers, ensure basic needs are met, and help families across Cochise County live healthier, more stable lives.
For more information on the Mercy CARES Grant and more about Mercy CARES click HERE.
For more information on the Chiricahua Cares Fund Click HERE
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